Book Train Travel

Because the route neither begins nor ends in Germany, you can't use the German rail website (bahn.de) to actually book the ticket. You can try the French rail network at www.voyages-sncf.com (click on the "train" tab, then look at the http address at the top of your browser window...look for "LANG=FR" and change the FR to UK, then hit refresh to get English) or the Italian rail service at http://trenitalia.com/en/index.html . There have been problems for some booking through the Trenitalia service. Register first, wait for the confirmatory e-mail will password, access your account ASAP to change your password to something you like....THEN book.

This is impossible! I have just spent the last couple of hours to try and book something (how frustrating) can this be. I have registered with voyages-sncf.com changed the lang to UK but it doesn't come up.
I have gone to trenitalia.com/en/index.html (and have joined) and it directs me to www.tgv-europe.com/en/home/ and when I put in the info it redirects me to voyages-sncf.com. I have even tried to call trenitalia's 24 hr customer service but it recognizes my number as a foreign number & then the phone hangs up.
Any other ideas ?

Kathy....trenitalia will NEVER redirect you to SNCF. They are two completely separate rail networks with asbolutely no links. Try replacing UK with EN and see what happens. It will redirect you to TGV Europe if you select to have your tickets delivered anywhere but France. Trenitalia's telephone service cannot recognize your number as a foreign number and then hang up. Either they are short-staffed right now (it is 3 in the morning there) or you are calling the wrong number. Their regular line won't work from outside Europe. Try 011-39-06-6847-5475

Kathy, another option you might consider would be to buy the ticket when you arrive in Paris. Check the web for the closest SNCF Boutique to your Hotel. You should be able to arrange a reservation a few days before your departure for Venice.

Good luck!

Still trying! voyages-sncf.com doesn't have a train that leaves in the evening. I need an early morning train. They have one on treitalia, so when I go to the site and I sign in I have to fill out the form over & over & over again (it's not working). I'll wait till tomorrow to see if I can get them on the phone.

Kathy, using the Trenitalia site, I can see an early morning train from Paris to Venice that departs at 7:39am. I can buy the tickets right now. I see a price of 79.50Euro.

CLICK HERE to see this schedule for 7/30. Note that the train numbers and names refer to what Trenitalia calls the trains. I can see the 7:39am run on www.raileurope.com as well. Oddly, I've looked at the French site (www.tgv-europe.com) and they don't show the run. However, they want about 92Euro for the tickets.

You can buy the tickets on Trentialia if you properly register. Within minutes of you registering, they will send you a "provisional" password. You must sign on right away and change this provisional password to one of your own choosing. Once you've done this, wait a day or two before you try to buy a ticket. I'm sure that there system has to go through an overnight update to get you into the system. Or, you can take the easy way out and go with Raileurope. Many do because it's much easier.

Yes, this is the train I want from Paris to Venice leaving at 7:30 a.m., but I don't see an option to pay 79.5 euros.
If I go to Fare which option do I select?
Flexi -117 E
Flexi Standard - 107
Smart Price
Giornalisti (what does this mean?)
Next you need to choose SEAT NEAR TO Coach? Seat? what do I put in these boxes, a number? I've tried
Ticket Delivery - if I choose self serve (not present in the departure stn) I don't think this is an option.
If I choose Home Delivery, what does Civic # mean & it doesn't let me fill in all of my postal code. I'd also be taking a chance because I'm leaving July 11, 2008.

For your journey from Paris to Venice on the 7:39 am train on 30 July, Trenitalia is not going to be a good choice for booking. The only option is "home delivery" for your ticket, and I doubt it'll make it into your hands by the time you leave Toronto on the 11th. Since there are actually two trains on this run (you switch in Milan), you can't get the whole run booked on SNCF, since that second train is entirely in Italy. However, you can book the 7:39 train from Paris to Milan at SNCF(follow the instructions for changing the FR to EN and it will come up in English...leave the tickets to be picked up selection as France), and you'll find a fare as low as 60 Euro. You can pick up that ticket at a ticket window in Paris, with the credit card you used to purchase. Then go to Trenitalia for the Milan-Venice journey, say, the 4:05 pm train...to allow you some leeway with your first leg arriving at 2:50. Choose the "Amica" fare, and one of the two "ticketless" solutions (just show the confirmation e-mail with the "PNR" number to the conductor....no need for validation), for 17.80 Euro. Total cost, 77.80 Euro.

Or....you could fly. Vueling and easyjet both go from CDG to Venice Marco Polo (the main airport) and both still have seats available for 65-70 Euro plus baggage charges. Just be aware of their baggage limitations and restrictions, and advance check-in times. Myair, an Italian discount airline, flies from Orly to Marco Polo, and have tickets as low as 55 Euro for the 30th (again, plus baggage charges...check details as well about size and weight limits and checkin times.)

I've checked out Myair, Vueling, Easyjet, and Ryanair.
Ryanair has the best times & price, but when I go to register I need to check the box that says I have a EEA/EU passport. What's this? This is the only holdup so far on this flight.
Thanks!

No Kathy, you do NOT need to check that box. That is only for holders of those passports. That means you will have to pay to check in....but you can ask for a form at check in to get your money back. However, AVOID RYANAIR. They fly from "Paris Beauvais" airport which is a 90 minute bus ride northwest of Paris (I think another 15 Euro cosst) and they fly to "Venice Treviso" airport, which is in the city of Treviso, meaning another bus ride (and another cost) to ride into Venice. Ryanair also isn't as forthright as others in terms of the TOTAL cost until you get to the final payment page. Stick with vueling, easyjet, or myair.

Thanks Norm for your help. I finally booked with Vueling.